From Broke to Wealthy: 17 Powerful Mindset Shifts That Transformed My Life

Today, I want to talk about the lessons I’ve learned on the path to richness.

One of the most fascinating aspects for me was discovering the 17 key differences between wealthy and poor individuals.

Difference 1: Rich people think big, poor people think small.

Wealthy people think on a large scale, while those who are poor think on a smaller scale.

Have you ever gone grocery shopping, hopping from store to store for hours just to save 50 or 60 cents?

Or maybe you’ve stood in line for an hour to get a free burger?

If you’ve done this, you may have a “poor person” mindset.

I know this might sound harsh, but hear me out.

There’s nothing wrong with saving money while shopping.

However, it’s important to consider how much time you’re spending to save a small amount.

If you invest an hour looking for the cheapest oranges to save 60 cents, that means you value your hour at 60 cents.

In contrast, wealthy people don’t focus on saving a few cents.

They recognize the value of their time and are always thinking of ways to ensure their hour is worth something like $6,000 instead.

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Difference 2: Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.

Let me be straightforward.

No one is concerned with how much effort you’ve invested in something. What matters to them is the outcome.

Your customer doesn’t care if you’ve spent hundreds of hours developing a product. Do you think they’ll buy a poor product just because of the effort you’ve put in? Absolutely not.

What they care about is the result. If it’s good, they’ll buy it, even if it only took you a few hours to make.

For instance, you don’t care how much effort or time I spent on this video. If it’s engaging, you’ll keep watching; if not, you’ll switch to another one.

The fact that I may have spent over 100 hours on it doesn’t matter. The mistakes that caused me to spend extra time are also irrelevant. You don’t care about any of that.

You wouldn’t say, “I’ll watch this low-quality video just because it took 100 hours to create.”

It’s all about the result, not the time or effort.

The author emphasizes that to understand your true worth, focus on delivering results rather than just earning a salary.

Wealthy individuals believe in their value and their capacity to achieve results, while poor people don’t, which is why a secure paycheck matters more to them.

Difference 3: Rich people think both. Poor people think either or.

Poor people tend to believe that there’s not enough to go around, and that you can’t have it all. In contrast, rich people believe there’s abundance for everyone, and you can have everything you truly desire.

Poor people think in terms of scarcity, while the rich focus on abundance.

Do you want a successful career or a strong family bond? Why not both?

Do you want to focus on your business or have time for fun? Why not both?

Do you prefer a blonde girlfriend or a brunette? Why not both? Just a joke, but you get the idea.

Rich people aim for both, while poor people feel they must choose.

Poor people often see the world as a finite resource, like a cake where each slice taken makes it disappear faster. Meanwhile, rich people see the world as an endless buffet—when something runs out, more is served.

Poor people believe they have to choose between money and other important parts of life.

Do you really have to pick between wealth and happiness? Of course not.

It’s like asking whether you should choose between your eyes or your hands. Naturally, you want both.

Money and happiness are both essential, and you can have both.

Many people hold negative beliefs about wealth, thinking that being rich makes you a bad person. This mindset leads them to believe they must choose between being rich and being kind. As a result, they choose kindness and remain financially struggling.

Instead, you should believe that you can be wealthy, kind, and happy all at once.

You’ve likely heard someone say, “That person changed after becoming rich” or “Money changed them.” But I believe money doesn’t change who you are; it simply amplifies your true nature.

If you are a kind person, wealth will make you a kind, wealthy person. If you enjoy helping others, money allows you to help even more people.

On the flip side, if you’re a jerk, money will only make you a wealthy jerk. If you do bad things after becoming rich, it means you were already inclined to do so. Money just makes it more visible.

Difference 4: Rich people focus on opportunities, poor people focus on obstacles.

This is one of my favorite concepts.

Whenever I come up with a new idea, I like to share it with others to gather feedback. It’s rare to find someone who acknowledges the challenges but also focuses on the potential benefits.

Most of the time, I hear people telling me about the high stock price of TSM, yet its stock price keeps rising over time. That’s how people with a scarcity mindset think—they constantly focus on the hurdles and risks, whereas wealthy individuals are tuned into the opportunities.

Poor people make decisions driven by fear. Their minds are always looking for what’s wrong or what could go wrong in a situation. Their default thinking is, “What if it doesn’t work?” or, more commonly, “It won’t work.”

This doesn’t mean you should ignore problems. Of course, you need to address issues as they arise. But don’t let fear and obstacles hold you back.

When you focus on problems, you attract more problems. But when you focus on opportunities, you open yourself up to more opportunities.

In the end, you get what you focus on—it’s a simple, universal truth.

Difference 5: Rich people surround themselves with positive, successful people, while poor people often associate with negative or unsuccessful individuals.

Put simply, if you want to soar like an eagle, don’t swim with the ducks. If your goal is to become wealthy, study successful people. Spend time with them, observe their habits, and use them as a model. Do what they do, read what they read—there’s a reason they’ve achieved success.

For example, if you want to build a successful YouTube channel, find top channels in your niche and analyze their strategies. Look at the type of content they create, the length of their videos, and the style they use. Study how they make great videos and think about ways to improve your own.

If you adopt the same actions and mindset, you’re likely to achieve similar results.

When I share this advice, some people get upset. They ask, “So you just want me to copy others? Be unoriginal? Steal someone else’s work?”

That’s not what I’m saying at all. For some reason, people today want to be like Mark Zuckerberg and invent the next Facebook. But if you’re an average person, like me, you’re more likely to succeed by following in the footsteps of successful people, and that doesn’t make you unoriginal.

For instance, even if you talk about the same topics I do, use the same visuals, fonts, and background music, your content will still be unique because you have your own voice and your own way of explaining things.

Even if you take the same approach, your content will still be different from mine. By the way, you’ve probably noticed that many channels are doing exactly what I’m doing, yet this channel is still growing.

Please don’t misunderstand—I’m not trying to boast about my channel’s success. I mention myself because you can easily relate to my situation. If I gave you an example about someone like Jeff Bezos, it might be harder for you to connect with his story. But you and I are just two regular people trying to improve ourselves.

Another common complaint I hear is, “I don’t have wealthy people around me, so how can I surround myself with them?” You don’t need to have them in your life directly.

You can learn from successful individuals by reading their books or watching their videos. You can’t ask someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger to hang out with you and teach you how to get in shape, but he has tons of videos and has written a book. So why not watch his content or read his work?

I don’t have any rich friends around me, but I consider value investors with strong reputations, like Warren Buffett, to be my “rich friends.” I spend time with them by studying what they do, reading their books, watching their videos, and listening to their podcasts.

Difference 6: Rich people know exactly what they want and are committed to achieving it. Poor people simply wish to be rich without clarity.

Imagine you and a friend walk into an electronics store to buy a laptop. Your friend approaches the sales assistant and says, “I want to buy a laptop.” The assistant will likely ask, “What do you need it for? What specs are you looking for? Is it for gaming, work, or something else?” With so many options available, the assistant needs more information.

But your friend doesn’t know and just says, “I just want a laptop.” This is similar to how some people approach success—they want it but have no clear idea of what it looks like for them. As a result, they might end up with something that doesn’t suit their needs, just like your friend might buy an unsuitable laptop.

Now imagine you walk up and say, “I need a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM, an Intel i7 processor, a dedicated graphics card for video editing, a 15-inch screen, and long battery life.” The assistant knows exactly what to recommend, and you walk away with the perfect laptop for your needs. The clearer you are about what you want, the easier it is to achieve it.

Similarly, rich people don’t send mixed messages. Only poor people do. The main reason many people don’t get what they want is that they haven’t defined what they truly want.

You need to know exactly what a wealthy life means for you and have a plan to reach it.

For example, for me, a wealthy life means the freedom to work when and where I want, with the ability to choose who I work with, without being managed by a manager above me.

I want to be able to take taxis whenever I want, instead of riding a scooter for long commutes and getting wet in the rain.

When I dine at a restaurant, I want to order whatever I like without worrying about the price.

I want to take my parents on a nice vacation twice a year.

I want to help people around me who are struggling financially.

I want the freedom to wake up at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday and go surfing.

I want to hit the gym in the middle of the day and then grab sushi whenever I feel like it.

This is my idea of a rich life, and I have a plan to achieve it.

Difference 7: Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their values, while poor people view selling and promotion negatively.

Let me put it this way: If you had a cure for a disease, would you keep it from someone who is suffering? Of course not. Similarly, if you truly believe that what you offer can help others, it’s your responsibility to promote it. By not doing so, you’re actually doing them a disservice.

Your product might be exactly what could change someone’s life, but if you don’t promote it, they lose that opportunity.

One of the biggest barriers to success is a negative attitude towards selling and promotion. People who struggle with this often find themselves financially stuck. After all, how can you generate significant income if you’re not willing to tell people about your product or service?

No matter what you do, being good at selling and promoting is crucial. Selling is a part of almost every aspect of life.

For example, when you’re persuading your partner to go out to eat instead of going shopping, you’re selling. When you’re encouraging your child to study, you’re selling.

In fact, right now, I’m selling to you. I’m selling you my content, and you’re paying for it with your time—with minutes of your life.

And I’m not ashamed to do this. I’m not embarrassed to promote my content or ask you to like and subscribe because I know the ideas I share can truly help shift your mindset.

Difference 8: Rich people believe, “I create my life,” while poor people believe, “Life happens to me.”

If you want to build wealth, it’s essential to understand that you’re in control. Poor people often go through life like passengers, while rich people always take the driver’s seat.

Have you ever noticed that it’s usually less wealthy people who spend a lot of money on the lottery? They rely on luck, hoping someone will randomly pick their name and make them rich.

Those with less wealth also tend to justify their situation by saying things like, “Money isn’t important; happiness and love are what matter.” This comparison doesn’t make sense.

Let me ask you this: Is your leg more important than your arm? You’d probably think that’s a ridiculous question, right? Both are equally important. Just like that, both money and happiness matter. Both money and love are valuable. Like food and water, they are both necessary.

People with less wealth also tend to blame others. It’s never their fault; they always see themselves as victims of their circumstances.

I have two friends who were both diagnosed with high blood pressure. They were the same age, led similar lifestyles, and were given the same advice by their doctors: eat healthier, exercise, and manage stress.

The first friend felt defeated by the diagnosis. He believed genetics were to blame, something he couldn’t control, so he didn’t make any significant changes. He continued eating poorly, avoiding exercise, and relying solely on medication. Over time, his condition worsened.

The second friend saw the diagnosis as a wake-up call. He accepted that while genetics played a role, he could still take control of his lifestyle. He started cooking healthier meals, walking daily, and meditating to reduce stress. Eventually, his health improved, and he developed good habits for managing his condition.

Both faced the same issue, but one felt powerless while the other took charge and turned his situation into an opportunity for growth.

Another reason many people remain poor is because they complain. When you focus on what’s wrong, you attract more of it. What you focus on expands, so those who complain continue to experience more negativity in their lives.

Difference 9: Rich people manage their money wisely, while poor people often mismanage it.

Money is just a tool, like your computer or phone, and you need to learn how to use it properly. We spend hours learning how to use technology, but many ignore the need to understand how money works and how to manage it.

It’s surprising because we trade our time for money by working long hours, yet so many people don’t take the time to learn how to handle it. Given how much people complain about their financial struggles, you’d think they’d prioritize learning money management, but that’s rarely the case.

Wealthy people aren’t necessarily smarter than the less wealthy—they just have better money habits. To master money, you need to manage it. Saying you’ll start managing your money once you have more of it is like an overweight person saying they’ll start exercising once they’ve lost 20 pounds.

You need to start managing what you have now, and then more will come. If your son can’t even take care of his bike, you wouldn’t buy him a car. The same principle applies to money: the universe won’t give you more until you show you can handle what you already have.

Even if you’re borrowing money to get by, it’s crucial to learn how to manage it. Developing the habit of managing money is key, especially when you have a small amount. Building that habit first is essential.

For example, if your goal is to squat 100 kilos at the gym, you first need to get into the habit of lifting something as small as a 1-kilo blanket by getting out of bed. If you can’t do that, reaching your larger goal is unlikely.

To effectively manage money, it’s recommended to create five different accounts: an investment account, a play account, an education account, a giving account, and an expense account.

You should allocate at least 10% of your after-tax income to your investment account. This is the account that will generate long-term wealth. It’s also advised to put 10% into your play account. The money in this account should be spent by the end of the month on fun activities that make you feel happy and prosperous.

If you never allow yourself to enjoy your money, eventually the part of you that seeks fun will sabotage your other financial efforts.

Difference 10: Rich people are bigger than their problems, while poor people are smaller than their problems.

The key to success isn’t about avoiding or eliminating problems. It’s about growing yourself to the point where you can overcome any problem that comes your way.

Whether you’re rich or poor, problems will arise. The real issue isn’t the size of the problem, but the size of your ability to handle it. The more significant challenges you can tackle, the more substantial your business, responsibilities, employees, and money you can manage.

What we call “problems” are really just situations, and we often turn them into problems. While some people let these situations affect them, others don’t.

So how can the same situation be a problem for one person but not for another? It comes down to the individual. It depends on you.

For example, you might get fired and feel down all day, complaining about it. Or, you could see it as an opportunity to use your free time to start your own business.

Difference 11: Rich people are great at receiving, while poor people struggle with it.

A poor receiver is someone who finds it hard to accept things like praise, compliments, money, or gifts. Many people face this difficulty because of the way they’ve been conditioned. Growing up, they may have often heard phrases like, “That’s wrong” or “You’re not doing it right,” which reinforced a sense of inadequacy. This feeling of not being good enough makes them poor receivers.

From now on, make it a habit to accept whatever someone offers. If someone compliments you, simply say “thank you” instead of dismissing it with, “No, I look terrible today.” It’s really that easy. Just receive the compliment.

There’s a story of a woman who struggled to accept help for most of her life. She felt she had to be self-sufficient, even when things were tough. Whether it was help with moving, gifts, or someone offering to buy her coffee, she would decline, feeling undeserving or worried about being a burden.

One day, after a tough period, a friend advised her that being a good receiver is part of the flow of abundance. By refusing help or gifts, she was stopping the natural energy of giving and receiving.

She started to shift her mindset. The next time someone offered to help, she said “thank you” with a smile. When a colleague complimented her work, she accepted it with grace instead of brushing it off. And when her family gave her a gift, she received it with gratitude, understanding that receiving is just as essential as giving.

As she practiced becoming a better receiver, she noticed more opportunities and positivity coming into her life. It wasn’t just about material things—she was opening herself up to receiving love, support, and abundance, creating a natural and fulfilling cycle of giving and receiving.

Difference 12: Rich people play the money game to win, while poor people play to avoid losing.

In sports, a team focused only on defense with no offense struggles to win. Similarly, many people approach money with a “defense-first” mentality, aiming for survival rather than wealth and abundance. Poor people often just want enough to cover their bills. But intention matters. When your goal is only to make ends meet, that’s all you’ll achieve, just enough to pay the bills, with nothing left over.

You need to aim higher.

You must shoot at the stars so that you can at least hit the moon.

If you aim for wealth, you’ll end up comfortable, but if you only aim for comfort, you’ll likely stay stuck where you are.

Difference 13: Rich people make their money work for them, while poor people work hard for their money.

Both rich and poor people have to work for their money, but for rich people, this is a temporary situation. They believe that if you work hard initially, your money will eventually take your place and work for you. The goal is to reach financial freedom as soon as possible.

Financial freedom means living the life you desire without needing to work or rely on anyone else for money. The key to this is passive income, money that comes in without you actively working for it. Once your passive income exceeds your expenses, you’re financially free. Many people think they need to be rich before they can achieve this, but that’s a misconception. Financial freedom can come first, and it’s easier to attain.

Think of it as climbing a ladder: financial freedom is like a 10-step ladder, while becoming rich is like a 1,000-step ladder. It’s simpler to reach financial freedom, and once you’re there, you can use the extra time and security to pursue wealth.

For instance, one woman realized she could rent out her apartment and move to a cheaper place. The rent covered her expenses and even allowed her to save. She became financially free and then focused on building her business and wealth.

There are two main sources of passive income:

1. Money working for you: This includes income from investments like stocks, bonds, or assets that grow in value.

2. Businesses working for you: This involves owning businesses or properties that generate income without requiring your active involvement.

Real estate is a common example of this type of passive income.

Difference 14: Rich people focus on their net worth, while poor people focus on their working income.

When it comes to money, most people ask, “How much do you earn?” rather than, “What is your net worth?” Only a small number of people understand that wealth is measured by net worth—the total value of everything you own minus what you owe—not just by your income.

To calculate your net worth, you need to add up all your assets, including cash, investments, real estate, business value, and personal property, then subtract your liabilities. Net worth is the ultimate measure of wealth because it reflects how much of your wealth can be converted into cash when needed.

A useful exercise is to create a visual representation of your current net worth and your desired net worth, and regularly track your progress. Even if your current net worth is zero or negative, monitoring it will help you improve over time, as “what gets tracked, gets improved.”

Difference 15: Rich people take action despite fear; poor people let fear stop them.

Success follows a simple manifestation formula: thoughts lead to feelings, feelings prompt actions, and actions generate results. Thoughts and feelings happen in your inner world, while action is the bridge to your outer world. Without action, your dreams of wealth are meaningless.

Many people read about how to get rich but never apply what they’ve learned because of fear, doubt, or worry. Rich people, on the other hand, feel fear but take action anyway. Poor people often let fear hold them back because they seek comfort and avoid discomfort. If you only do what feels comfortable, your life will be uncomfortable. But if you embrace discomfort, you’ll achieve a comfortable life.

Your mind is a natural fear detector, not a success detector, and it will often show you the worst-case scenarios. Managing your mind is essential to overcoming fear. Two books that can help are The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, which teaches living in the present to overcome anxiety, and The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz, which focuses on managing fear and building confidence.

Difference 16: Rich people continuously learn and grow, while poor people think they already know everything.

The three most dangerous words are “I know that.” Real knowledge comes from living an experience, not just hearing or reading about it. If you aren’t living the success you desire, there are still things you need to learn and apply.

If you want better results in life, you need to learn new strategies and practices. Doing the same things will only bring the same outcomes. Continuous learning and growth are essential to achieving new levels of success.

Difference 17: Rich people admire other successful people; poor people resent them.

In some communities, when someone becomes wealthy or successful, they’re often met with resentment, gossip, or accusations of dishonesty. People may say things like, “They must have cheated to get all that,” instead of seeing their success as something admirable.

However, those with a wealth mindset admire successful people and look for ways to learn from them. For instance, one family moved into a large home and owned successful businesses, and while some people criticized them, others were inspired and wanted to learn from their achievements.

The lesson here is that you can’t attract what you criticize. If you resent success, you’ll push it away, but if you admire and learn from it, you open yourself up to similar opportunities.

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